Tacoma Stalking, er...uh, Spotting, with Charlie™ (2nd Gen Edition)!

Custom ordered November 2014, received March 2015: ~12 weeks of waiting.

We only have one option for dealers in the state (2 dealerships, 1 owner) and the nearest outside dealership is 2400 miles away (no stock trading). Since I was planning to pay cash I was going to get exactly what I wanted and the only Sport 6spd ACLB they were going to receive for rest of the 2nd gens were white and black.

 

I went to order my last 3 taco's, but eventually the dealers located what I wanted on other lots. Tell 3 dealers what you want, tell them they have competition, and basically let them get into a bidding war. There was a $4k spread between the dealers on my '05 for the same vin#! The same thing worked on both the '08's I had. Be patient if you can and just buy when the deal is in your favor. Doesn't work as easy if you're trading, but if you're not, you can save a ton.

 

I bought the only 4.0 4x4 manual on the lot. It also happened to be an Access Cab, which I wanted. I need a 6 foot bed to sleep in, and don't want a trail limo.

 

I had to order mine because in my area there were no speedway blue access cab 4x4 with the OR package to be found. I've had it 8 years and to this day I've never seen another one. They are all double cabs.

 

Ordered black 2012 DCSB black 4x4 base, and auto. What a bitch to locate, come to find out to the dealer that did was because they only made 2 that way that year and color and I got 1. I didn’t think it would be so tough to get a base

 

Went to the Chicago Auto show back in 2015 and saw a Blue Ribbon Metallic Tacoma. Fell in love with the color and that is what I wanted. Few weeks later a local dealer just received one. Went to look at it and bought it.

 

I wanted an access cab, V6 manual in quicksand (TRD Sport the only possibility). I ordered a 2016 model in June 2016, it arrived in October as a 2017 model. Well worth the wait.

 

Drove it off the lot.

Searched around for a few sports and went to the dealer that had the best pricing, and a handful of color choices. I wanted either Spruce Mica, Super White or Barcelona.

The only one with a Roof Rack was superwhite. They had to unload it off a storage trailer behind the dealership before I could see it. It was covered in (Crape Mertle?) Flowers and pollen. It was love at fist sight.

 

This. People seem to think they can custom order a Tacoma.

All it is, is putting in a request for a certain truck from Toyota. There is no promise that dealer will get one. So you could order and end up SOL.

Dealers get allotted a certain amount of trucks with certain features based on what the dealer requests and what their sales are.

If a dealer has a specific allotment number of a certain model/trim. They may not be able to recieve past that. I imagine this is usually something that only happens with the TRD Pros since those are more limited.

 

dealers have some flexibility with their allocations. sometimes toyota will override a request. for something atypical, like my truck, my dealership has a good relationship with the zone rep and the rep put in the order

 

Bought mine used from Toyota Dealer in Knoxville since I needed more towing grunt then my V-6 RAV4 could muster...

 

So you got a different V6????

 

The RAV was rated at #3500, the tacoma at #6500... heavier construction and suspension...

 

I happened to get mine fresh off of the car carrier. Had 0.3 miles on it.

 

According to the poll so far it looks like a lot of people just buy off the lot. Good for them! This is my 4th tacoma. Everyone was ordered from the factory, I guess that is how I roll.

 

Not really a Generation 2 Tacoma

 

X-2

 

Ordered my 2015 4x4 SR5 Access cab off the lot. It had some options I didn't care for but were all part of an option package with the options I did want...

When at the Toyota site (for either Tacoma or Tundra) they don't really offer the option selections I want to evaluate. Like options for:
V8 in Tacoma (or V6 in Tundra).
Supercharger (at least not on an SR5... and a s/c on a 4 cyl might be an interesting thought for some)
Diesel engine
Manual transmission
Larger gas tank (except on Tundra)
Enhanced towing package with larger trans cooler, oversized brake rotors, dual batteries, even larger alternator, etc

And while we are at it options with preferred partners for:
Heavier duty suspensions front & back
Caps
Tires, AT, Hwy, etc.
Lifts for 33" or 35" tires
Steel or alum plate bumpers...

 

I weaseled my way into mine, but I am finally hear. LOL. 5 years ago I had a 96 taco and I scratched clawed and even bit just to get hear to 06. LOL

 

2 years ago today... Had to wait a few hours while they picked her up at another dealership down the road.